Senate Votes Obamacare One Step Closer to the Finish Line

The Senate voted this evening by a 60-39 majority to commence debate on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s bill that would radically expand government control over private health care decisions. The bill is over 2000 pages long, costs an estimated $2.5 trillion over the first ten years of implementation and carries a half trillion dollars in new taxes. Many Americans have to be thinking right now — they have heard from their dissenting constituents at Town Hall meetings and have seen the poll numbers for Obama’s health care bill dropping like a rock so why would they keep moving this bill forward?

1. Abortion: Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) offered an amendment to the House bill to ban all federal funds flowing into the health care system from funding abortion. Senator Reid put language in the bill that allows some funds to go to abortion services by using an accounting gimmick. This issue could take the bill down, because the House approach is far different from the Senate approach. If this bill becomes a referendum on abortion policy, it may fail.

2. Cost: Senator Reid has promoted his bill as costing the federal government $849 billion and as a budget cutting bill. Conservatives in the Senate have pointed out that the costs are more accurately $2.5 trillion over the first 10 years of implementation because the benefits are not even scheduled to be paid out until 2014. There is a huge disparity between the two sides as to the cost of the bill and if it gets bigger and bigger on the Senate floor, then it may suffer a legislative implosion.

3. The Public Plan: Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) has pledged to support a filibuster of any bill containing the public option. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) will only accept a public option with a trigger. Other Senators have expressed reservations about different permutations of the public option. A bill with a too strong public option may not have the support to pass the Senate.

4. Wild Card: As with all these debates, there may be an issue that comes out of the blue and becomes central to the bill. There were debates over “death panels” during initial stages of the debates and controversies over coverage for illegal immigrants. Some other issue may be offered as an amendment or may be buried in the 2000 pages of the bill that may become the next controversy to prevent passage.

The week after Thanksgiving, the Senate will start the process of considering and voting on amendments to the bill. This process may go in one of two directions. It is possible that Reid uses the amendment process to buy just enough votes to pass the bill through targeted special interest amendments. Expect Connecticut, Nebraska, Arkansas, and, yet again, Louisiana to receive special treatment in the amendment process. If Senator Reid is able to buy support during this process, the bill will pass and the President will sign Obamacare before his State of the Union.

Scenario two kicks in if opponents of the bill play hardball. If opposing Senators offer non-germane amendments, like the legislation to restore the 2nd Amendment in the District of Columbia or a resolution of disapproval for Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to try Kahlid Sheik Mohammed in federal courts, then the Senate would be mixing some volatile issues into the health care mix. Regardless the course of action, this bill will either pass or fail as a direct result of the actions of a handful of Senators.

Today with a deeply offended heart, due to the loss of all integrity in our leadership who are suppose to serve the American People I am writing to voice my concern. For the first time in my life I am truly ashamed of those who are suppose to serve this great country.

Invoking the memory of Edward M. Kennedy, Democrats united Saturday and overwhelmingly voted against of the American People for whom they serve. They voted against the majority of the American People, against our Military Forces who have fought and many who gave their lives over the years to preserve our precious Freedoms.

Today our freedoms have been negated by the most ARROGANT men & women who because of their selfish desires, think that they are above the people they serve. They have bribed, lied, and most importantly they chosen to disregard the Constitution that they took an oath to protect.

Watching some of the most dishonest leaders preach to the American People that this is a great bill when they have robbed from the American People time and time again is appalling! We can read and we can see through the close doors some of the bribes between the Pharmaceuticals, AARP, SEIU, American Medical Associations, etc. etc, etc.

Never in the history of this country have the American People been forced or mandated to spend their wealth on something they may not want or already have. This is totally an affront to our Constitution and to this Great Nation the United States of American.

We the American People know that over this past year every bill has been a crisis situation and needs to be rushed through without any real planning. Each Bill that the House & Senate have passed has driven the American economy deeper and deeper in debt far outspending the original price. When other countries tell you that you are going to break the World economy you would think you would listen. But no we must continue to pay for your follies.

Hopefully when the final bill is voted on, the Senate and House will represent the American People!

I have sadly informed my children that their future is being "mortgaged" by this administration in lightning speed, and not to trust anyone who calls themself a "liberal" or "democrat" again. They are old enough to understand economics 101, and the constitution's rights. We have started to prepare for the worst to come. Sorry folks, this is really sad what is happening to this great country of our.. :-(

We can now see that are Senators are not voting with for the good of the people that they are in office to represent, if this health care bill pass,es on a party line vote it should be the duty of every American worker to stand up and vote these people out of office.

Amazing that this bill is allowed to get to the floor. The moderate democrats and the lame street media know this is a poorly crafted bill. This is all about protecting Obama, not the country. Sad day for America

not sure why nobody's talking about the tiny provision in this health care bill that penalizes states for meaningful tort reform!!!! This is amazing:

this is in the bill….penalties for states that have or impose tort reform:

Pelosi Health Care Bill Blows a Kiss to Trial Lawyers

by Capitol Confidential

The health care bill recently unveiled by Speaker Nancy Pelosi is over 1,900 pages for a reason. It is much easier to dispense goodies to favored interest groups if they are surrounded by a lot of legislative legalese. For example, check out this juicy morsel to the trial lawyers (page 1431-1433 of the bill):

Section 2531, entitled “Medical Liability Alternatives,” establishes an incentive program for states to adopt and implement alternatives to medical liability litigation. [But]…… a state is not eligible for the incentive payments if that state puts a law on the books that limits attorneys’ fees or imposes caps on damages.

So, you can’t try to seek alternatives to lawsuits if you’ve actually done something to implement alternatives to lawsuits. Brilliant! The trial lawyers must be very happy today!

While there is debate over the details, it is clear that medical malpractive lawsuits have some impact on driving health care costs higher. There are likely a number of procedures that are done simply as a defense against future possible litigation. Recall this from the Washington Post:

“Lawmakers could save as much as $54 billion over the next decade by imposing an array of new limits on medical malpractice lawsuits, congressional budget analysts said today — a substantial sum that could help cover the cost of President Obama’s overhaul of the nation’s health system. New research shows that legal reforms would not only lower malpractice insurance premiums for medical providers, but would also spur providers to save money by ordering fewer tests and procedures aimed primarily at defending their decisions in court, Douglas Elmendorf, director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, wrote in a letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).”

I'm a surgeon and can tell you that aside from the obvious problems with our court system, doctors cover their butts continuously, over ordering tests…just in case. we cannot tell how much money this is, but here's an example:

My 88 year old mother was seen in an ER for a fractured ankle, arriving from her nursing home. Because she fell, (no loss of consciousness), a ct scan and mri scan of the brain was ordered, along with ekg, cardiology and neurological consultation. while the doctor didn't benefit from these tests, he covered his a___ and the hospital made money on the tests.

This is the problem and unless doctors are incentivized to streamline their tests, this will drain the system

Defeat this bill!!!! as regards abortion funding,taxes to support it, immigrant services and public option! I have expressed and will express in the future, my solid objections to this betrayal from Congressmen. If the Senate does not listen to its constituents, then their disregard will be addressed in the upcoming elections, but it will be too late. For shame! Representatives are supposed to vote according to the people that they represent. How can they be so blase and close-minded?

With Obama "Liar, Crook" in the white house and his scoundrel of a cabinet you will be very surprised what will pass. I would not be surprised if Obama is not being paid a portion of the stimulus fund to an off shore account.

What I see is a blatant disregard for the constitution and what the american people want. Peeps were mad at the republicans for thier blatant spending and voted the democrats in to stop it and look what is happening now. It has gone ten fold the opposite direction of where they thought Obama and the democrats were gonna lead us. It is time for amercans to stand up and let these leberals know that we are not gonna sit here and take it. It is now officially time for an anema in washington. Republican or democrat.

It is a sad sad day when the elected officials have been put in office and taken an oath to protect and defend our constution and they blatantly disregard the founding documents and only use words out of context to promote their own ungodly and self serving agendas. It makes me sick and while I am proud to be an American because of the heritage of our country, I am not proud of the cowardice and lying ways we are now being represented by. God help our country and our military–my husband served and is a veteran and as a former military wife I must say it must be harder than ever to serve under the lack leadership we now have.

To "Robin Alabama": The simple answer is: our representatives no longer represent "the people". They now represent only their own ambitions plus the various special interests who "paid" for their seats! We will need to vote out every one of these "monsters" up for reelection coming year, except for those who voted consistently against such schemes. That means, come campaign time, ignore their "campaign baloney" and "promises", regardless of who is endorsing them, and decide only by their voting records! And everyone not bedridden must go and vote. Only way to do it!

What is the matter with congress? They know we don't want this health care plan yet they continue to push it. What is in it for them? If this is passed, it is my wish that everyone who voted it in will be voted out.

My wife and I are scared to death!… Five years from retirement.. Good health… Veteran… Three kids through college without debt. $100k income. No personal debt. – saving and working all my life to grow the 401k nest egg (which has been hammered more than once in the last several years). – Presently covered by a good employer furnished health insurance plan. A+ credit rating. These people do not have my best interest at heart.

I will be writing the senate and house strongly recommending the final bill be named the Obama Kennedy Universal Health Care Bill of 2010.

It is fitting that their names be attached to the bill. If the bill works they can have all the credit. When the bill fails the American people, as surely it will, I want them to also have the credit for posterity and history.

The people who were bought off (politicians call it horse trading) have no honor and no integrity. This is not just moving this outrageous mess forward for debate, it is ensuring that a bill in some form will be passed that will cost us trillions and prevent job growth when we most need it.

These people have proven they do not represent the vast majority of American Citizens.

As the votes were being cast on the Senate floor Saturday, November 21, 2009- I told my 12 year old son that he was watching history in the making. That one day, he would sit down and tell his kids and his grandkids about the time he sat with his mother and watched the Senate vote for yet another move in the first stages of America's freedoms being siezed by Her own Goverment. The vote of 'yes' on this 'Healthcare' bill was not a vote to help the people with 'health concerns'. This 'bill' has nothing to do with 'Healthcare'. This is one of the first small steps toward Socialism. Like the frog in the frying pan: you put him in the pan with cold water, heat it very slowly until it boils. In this manner he doesn't feel himself gradually burning to his death. It is a slight and gradual movement toward Socialism that we head until one day we wake up to see something we did not expect at all. I quote Nikita Khrushchev, "We can't expect the American people to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day and find that they have Communism." It is not too late to let our voice be heard. This great country of ours was founded on the premise of Freedoms. And the last time I checked, we still have them. We MUST NOT let them be taken from us. Shout out America! Let your voice be heard! Call your Representatives, email them, write a letter; and when you finish with those of your state, do the same with your neighboring state! Do the same up the line, all the way to the President! I certainly do not want Khrushchev's prophetic words to come to pass.

We all know if that bill passes that our insurance premiums will go up as they always do when any new fees get added to the providers by the governement. Just remember when they announced that in February 2010 there will e restrictions on CCcompanies interest rates . There was an immediate raising of most peoples credit card rates even if they paid timely.It wil be the same when the tax increases happen to the insurers. Thsi is what i propose to do. I am tired of complaining.

1) the senators and all congress has to be insured mandatory under the public plan if it becomes law.

2) We the voters are going to limit their salaries and discretional spending dollars

3) We are going to limit their "work related " travels to : investigate for example global warming /cooling

4)They need to be reminded that they are working for us ,which is totally forgotten

5)No more presidents who are former lawyers

6)Every year the congress and the house has to publish where all the money f goes by sectors, welfare , ss, military etc, government employees

7)Campaign funds for a presedential run have to be limited to a certain amount and can not be privately increased , so bribing stays at a minimum

8) Americans need to have more power than just electing officials every so often and need to be heard and be able to actually vote on a serious matter ,just like voting on a prop on a ballot.

9) can a senator be recalled ?

There needs to be more involvement by the voters than every 4 years on large issues.

[…] that rather than the promised cost of around $850 billon the final figure is more likely to be over $2.5 trillion over the first 10 years. This money can only come from the American tax payer and I am willing to bet that if this bill […]

Reid is PAYING TAX DOLLARS to BUY VOTES?? What the he%$ is up with that? This whole bill along with reid, peloci, obama and a few turncoats need to be arrested for racketeering. I would think that solicitation of votes with money would be ILLEGAL. This has gone to far. This also smacks of treason……….

[…] Heritage’s Brian Darling gives an example of how the Senate process could be injected with even more hot political issues: “This process may go in one of two directions. It is possible that Reid uses the amendment process to buy just enough votes to pass the bill through targeted special interest amendments. … Scenario two kicks in if opponents of the bill play hardball. If opposing Senators offer non-germane amendments like the legislation to restore the 2nd Amendment in the District of Columbia or a resolution of disapproval for Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to try Kahlid Sheik Mohammed in federal courts.” […]

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